Every year the city of Lopburi in Thailand goes absolutely bananas. To celebrate the large population of its long-tailed monkeys, often seen guarding the city’s ancient temples, the city holds an annual buffet with more than 4,000 pounds of food.

The spread includes bananas, of course, but also many other fruits as well as vegetables, sodas and cakes.

The spread includes bananas, of course, but also many other fruits as well as vegetables, sodas and cakes.

Photo: SAEED KHAN, AFP/Getty Images

The spread includes bananas, of course, but also many other fruits... Photo-6705364.91338 - SFGate

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Night of the RadishesWhen:

Dec. 23, 2014
Where: Oaxaca, Mexico

One day out of the year, the artists of Mexico pick up a new canvas: radishes. The annual “Night of the Radishes” festival celebrates the vegetable with farmers carving them into imaginative shapes in hopes to lure customers to their booths.

Every year on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, nine teams equipped with a stockpile of oranges embark on one of the biggest food fights in the world. The annual “Battle of the Oranges” festival celebrates a local legend of commoners rising up against an evil tyrant.

The massive fruit war has been enjoyed by more than 100,000 spectators. Awards are given by judges to the top-performing teams.

The massive fruit war has been enjoyed by more than 100,000 spectators. Awards are given by judges to the top-performing teams.

Photo: GIUSEPPE CACACE, AFP/Getty Images

The massive fruit war has been enjoyed by more than 100,000... Photo-6705368.91338 - SFGate

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HoliWhen:

March 6, 2015
Where:

Primarily in India, Nepal but has expanded to other parts of the world
Every year, Holi is celebrated with a free-for-all fight with coloured powder and water. Holi, also referred to as the festival of colours and the festival of love, symbolizes the triumph of good versus evil, the passing of winter and the start of spring.

The popularity of the festival has caused it to expand into many parts of Europe and America.

The popularity of the festival has caused it to expand into many parts of Europe and America.

The popularity of the festival has caused it to expand into many... Photo-6705370.91338 - SFGate

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Hadaka MatsuriWhen:

Feb. 21, 2015
Where: Japan

This ancient purification ceremony is celebrated by more than 9,000 men every year who disrobe and wear only loincloths. The men splash around in freezing cold water during the festival as part of a religious ritual.

Men fight against each other at the chance to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.

Men fight against each other at the chance to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.

Photo: Trevor Williams, Getty Images

Men fight against each other at the chance to grab a pair of lucky... Photo-6705372.91338 - SFGate

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What the Fluff?When:

Sept. 27, 2014
Where: Somerville, Massachusetts

The annual What the Fluff? festival brings together the citizens of Somerville to commemorate Archibald Query, the inventor of Marshmallow Fluff and Somerville resident. The festival celebrates Query and his invention through art, performances, music and food.

This year the festival will include the fluffernutter relay, fluff lick-off, sticky musical chairs and fluff jousting.

This year the festival will include the fluffernutter relay, fluff lick-off, sticky musical chairs and fluff jousting.

Photo: Geoff Hargadon, What The Fluff?

This year the festival will include the fluffernutter relay, fluff... Photo-6705374.91338 - SFGate

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Phuket Vegetarian FestivalWhen:

Sept. 23 - Oct. 3, 2014
Where: Phuket, Thailand

The nine-day Phuket Vegetarian Festival celebrates abstinence from meat during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The tradition is said to help maintain good health and a piece of mind. The festival is also celebrated with intense ceremonies like firewalking, body piercing and acts of self mutilation in hopes to invoke the gods.

People pierce their cheeks with knives, skewers and other household items. It is believed that the Chinese gods will protect participants from harm or developing scars.

People pierce their cheeks with knives, skewers and other household items. It is believed that the Chinese gods will protect participants from harm or developing scars.

Photo: Joseph Ferris III, Wikimedia

People pierce their cheeks with knives, skewers and other household... Photo-6705376.91338 - SFGate

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The Entroido FestivalWhen:

Mid-February
Where: Laza, Spain
The people in Laza, Spain celebrate the end of winter by dressing up in elaborate costumes, running through the streets carrying flaming torches while other people throw dirt at them. The masked participants known as Peliqueiros (pictured above) walk the streets whipping people as they pass by.

Dirt isn’t the only thing being thrown around during the five-day celebration. People gather in the town square to hurl mud balls filled with fire ants at each other right before the festivities end.

Dirt isn’t the only thing being thrown around during the five-day celebration. People gather in the town square to hurl mud balls filled with fire ants at each other right before the festivities end.

Photo: PEDRO ARMESTRE, AFP/Getty Images

Dirt isn’t the only thing being thrown around during the five-day... Photo-6705378.91338 - SFGate

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When:

March 13-15, 2015
Where: Nederland, Colorado
In 1989 a man named Trygve Bauge brought his grandfather’s cryogenically frozen body all the way from Norway to a cryonics facility in a small Colorado town. Eventually Bauge moved his “Grandpa Bredo” to his own backyard before he was deported. Now every March the citizens of Nederland come together to celebrate their frozen citizen Grandpa Bredo.

Jan. 27, 2015
Where: Lerwick, Scotland
The Up Helly Aa festival has been hailed as Europe’s largest fire festival. Since the 1800s, thousands of people have dressed up as vikings to celebrate the end of the yule (Christmas in Scotland) season.